Far-right broadcaster ON loses editor after Hitler praise; parliament pushes for license revocation

Joost Niemöller is stepping down as editor-in-chief of the far-right public broadcaster Ongehoord Nederland (ON), weeks after he said on air that he agreed with "certain things" about Adolf Hitler. The resignation, announced on September 1, comes as a large majority of Dutch MPs demand that ON be stripped of its broadcasting license — a move that would have direct consequences for the public broadcasting system that all Dutch residents fund through license fees and taxes.

What happened

In a late-July broadcast of ON’s online panel show Let’s Twist Again, Niemöller stated that Hitler had put certain things "very well" aside from his antisemitism. Co-presenter Raisa Blommestijn also backed a statement that a "cosmopolitan elite" was hostile to ordinary people, after a clip of a Hitler speech referencing Jewish people was played. Both distanced themselves from Hitler’s full ideology, but the segment sparked widespread outrage. Media minister Rianne Letschert called it "terrible, distasteful, hurtful and unnecessary." The public broadcaster ombudsman logged dozens of complaints.

ON’s director-general Peter Vlemmix said Niemöller’s departure was due to a "difference of view about the editorial direction and recent programming," without mentioning the Hitler remarks. Niemöller had been editor-in-chief for about 18 months. The broadcaster has a history of violations: since joining the public broadcasting system in 2022, ON has been reprimanded and sanctioned multiple times for breaching journalistic rules. In June, ten other public broadcasters sent a joint letter to Letschert refusing to cooperate with ON.

What the government can do

The Tweede Kamer (lower house of parliament) has scheduled a debate on ON’s future for September 24. A public petition demanding the broadcaster’s removal has gathered over 20,000 signatures. MPs from parties including PRO, D66 and CDA say political patience has run out.

But revoking a broadcasting license is not simple. Letschert has said she is exploring all legal options, but warned that a judge would immediately overturn an arbitrary decision. ON must be proven to have systematically violated the Media Act and journalistic standards. The cabinet is examining whether ON can be forced out of the public broadcasting system, and Letschert has said a decision will come "very soon."

What this means for internationals in the Netherlands

The ON affair matters to anyone living in the Netherlands because the public broadcasting system (NPO) is funded by mandatory license fees and general taxation — including contributions from international residents. If ON loses its license, it would no longer have access to public airwaves or funding. Conversely, if the government fails to act, it sets a precedent about how far far-right speech can go within state-funded media.

For now, the debate on September 24 is the key date to watch. You can follow it via the Tweede Kamer’s live stream or via news outlets like DutchNews.nl and NL Times. If you want to make your voice heard, you can contact your elected MP or sign relevant petitions — though given the ongoing legal complexities, the final decision may ultimately rest with the courts.